The year’s festivities will take place from March 18-24 and showcases more than 100 different events across the state. Happenings include everything from specialty brews to beer dinners to a winter sports exhibition.

The Colorado Brewers Guild, which works to advocate and promote the state’s beer industry, took over running this year’s celebration – formerly called Colorado Beer Week.

“We thought it would be a good step for the brewers’ guild to take this on and use it as a platform for our 100-plus member breweries as a way for them to promote themselves and celebrate their beers, their breweries and the people who make those beers,” said Steve Kurowski, spokesman for the Colorado Brewers Guild.

The fun starts with a kickoff event at 7 p.m. March 18 at Falling Rock Tap House. For the price of a $45 ticket, patrons will get a chance to indulge in 80 different beers on tap from 43 local breweries. There are also plenty of events that don’t require tickets throughout the week.

“We thought this was a good way for us to showcase what we’re doing statewide,” Kurowski said. “It gives us a really great platform for our industry and how significant we are as an industry. … We’re all a bunch of small, independent businesses that are making a significant impact on our communities.”

The Colorado craft-brewing industry brings in about $446 million in revenue annually and supports about 5,000 jobs across the state, Kurowski said.

“It speaks volumes about our industry,” said Emily Armstrong, spokeswoman for Left Hand Brewing Company. “It’s not a war to showcase our beer, one brewery over the other. We’re all in it together. Colorado has a very strong craft-beer community and following. Together, there’s power in numbers.”

Our new iPad app serves as a guide to metro Denver’s bountiful breweries, beer bars and bottle shops, the holy trinity of craft beer enjoyment for followers and fans. Download the app for iPad .
Next time you head for a beer in Boulder, don’t forget your friend, Beers of Boulder and Boulder County, an iPad app from the Daily Camera. Download the app for iPad .

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In Colorado, our pint glasses overflow with excellent beer. New breweries, new batches, festivals every other week. How lucky are we? First Drafts is The Denver Post's beer blog aimed at helping you keep tabs on the state's ever-expanding craft beer culture. We offer a mash of news, event coverage, homegrown stories, tasting notes and tips to help you imbibe. Expert drinker or homebrewer? Let us know what you're loving about Colorado's beer scene. Not sure exactly what a firkin is? No worries, let us be your guide. Go ahead. Belly up and drink it in!